43.106 Modern World History

Fall 2001, Prof. Carlsmith

Guidelines for the Primary Source Analysis

Topic: Select one primary source from the time period
1750-2000 that is (or will be) historically significant. The type of document
that you choose—political, social, artistic, economic, philosophical, religious,
etc.—is up to you. Select a source in which you are genuinely interested, and
which has enough substance to justify a 5 pp. paper.

Your paper should introduce the document and
explain its historical context (who wrote it, when, where, and why); it should
briefly summarize the content of the document (not more than 25% of the
paper); and it should analyze the document’s importance in modern world
history. You might want to compare this document to others that are similar, or
you might analyze reactions to it in past and present.

Due Date: Wednesday, November
8. Late papers will be docked two points per day.

Length: 5 pages (ca. 1300
words).

Style: All papers must
be typed or word-processed. Use a one-inch margin on all sides, and
double-space the text. Select a standard 10 or 12 pt. font (e.g, Times New
Roman, Arial). Use page numbers. A title page is not necessary. Staple all
pages together. If you cite a source or use a quotation, you must document this
with an endnote, a footnote, or parenthetical citation (also known as social
science notation). Do not mix styles of documentation. Avoid monotonous
vocabulary and vary your sentence structure. Beware of excessive use of the
passive voice! Use transitions to link your ideas from one paragraph to the
next. Use specific examples whenever possible.

Thesis: Your paper should
have a clear and unambiguous thesis. It does not have to be complex or
brilliantly original, but it must unify the information presented in your
paper. A good thesis usually makes an argument rather than simply stating the
obvious (e.g., “Olympe de Gouges’ Declaration of the Rights of Woman in
1791 was an early call for gender equality and women’s political rights but most
of Europe did not accept these ideas for another century,” not “This
document was important for women’s history”). You are encouraged to consult
with the professor regarding a possible thesis statement.

Sources: The UML Library
contains a wealth of resources; the Reference Librarian Ron Karr can help you.
In my office, you might consult one or more of the following to browse for
ideas: Andrea and Overfield, The Human Record, vol. II; Mark Kishlansky,
Sources of the West, vol. II; Oliver A. Johnson, Sources of World
Civilization, vol. II; Peter N. Stearns, Documents in World History,
vol. II; Dennis Sherman, Western Civilization: Sources, Images, and
Interpretations; Paul Halsall’s Internet Modern History Sourcebook,
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html.

Because the
majority of your paper will analyze one document, a separate bibliography is not
required for this paper. However, you should explain what version/edition of the
primary source you are studying, so that other scholars could consult it. If
you cite other scholars’ interpretations of that document, then you must cite
them as well.